Thickening/foam-promoting agent

Abstract

The present invention provides a thickening/foam-promoting agent having thickening/foam-promoting properties and a low odor, and a detergent composition containing the agent. The thickening/foam-promoting agent is composed of the following component (A): (A) a compound represented by the following formula (1): R 1 O—(PO) n /(EO) m —R 2   (1), wherein R 1 is a linear alkyl or an alkenyl group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, PO is a propyleneoxy group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, an average added molar number n is a number of 1.5 to 3.0, an average added molar number m is a number of 0 to 1.0, and R 2 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, wherein the content of an alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2 is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 3000 ppm, and the detergent composition contains the component (A) and a surfactant (B).

1. A thickening/foam-promoting agent comprising the following component (A):
 (A) a compound represented by the following formula (1):
   R 1 O—(PO) n /(EO) m —R 2   (1),
 
 
 wherein R 1  is a linear alkyl or an alkenyl group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, PO is a propyleneoxy group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, an average added molar number n is a number of 1.5 to 3.0, an average added molar number m is a number of 0 to 0.5, and R 2  is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, 
 wherein a content of an alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 3000 ppm. 
 
     
     
       2. The thickening/foam-promoting agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of the alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 1500 ppm. 
     
     
       3. The thickening/foam-promoting agent according to  claim 1  or  2 , which is used for a detergent composition applied to skin or hair. 
     
     
       4. A detergent composition comprising the following components (A) and (B):
 (A) a compound represented by the following formula (1):
   R 1 O—(PO) n /(EO) m —R 2   (1),
 
 
 wherein R 1  is a linear alkyl or an alkenyl group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, PO is a propyleneoxy group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, an average added molar number n is a number of 1.5 to 3.0, an average added molar number m is a number of 0 to 0.5, and R 2  is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, 
 wherein a content of an alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 3000 ppm, and 
 (B) a surfactant other than the component (A), 
 wherein the detergent composition is applied to skin or hair. 
 
     
     
       5. The detergent composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the component (B) is composed of at least two kinds of surfactants, and one of the surfactants is a sulfobetaine. 
     
     
       6. The detergent composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the content of the alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 1500 ppm. 
     
     
       7. The detergent composition according to  claim 4  or  5 , wherein the component (A) is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight. 
     
     
       8. A process for producing the component (A) according to  claim 1  in which a content of a raw material alcohol is reduced to not more than 3000 ppm, the process comprising:
 reacting the raw material alcohol represented by the formula (2): 
 R 1  OH (2), 
 Wherein R 1  is a linear alkyl or an alkenyl group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, 
 with propylene oxide and/or ethylene oxide, and 
 then distilling away the raw material alcohol. 
 
     
     
       9. A method for thickening/foam-promoting a detergent composition, comprising adding to the detergent composition the following component (A):
 (A) a compound represented by the following formula (1):
   R 1 O—(PO) n /(EO) m —R 2   (1),
 
 
 wherein R 1  is a linear alkyl or an alkenyl group having 8 to 10 carbon atoms, PO is a propyleneoxy group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, an average added molar number n is a number of 1.5 to 3.0, an average added molar number m is a number of 0 to 0.5, and R 2  is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, 
 wherein a content of an alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 3000 ppm, 
 wherein the detergent composition comprises a surfactant other than the component (A). 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the content of the alcohol of the formula (1), when n=0, m=0 and R 2  is a hydrogen atom, is not more than 1500 ppm. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the detergent composition is applied to skin or hair.